Hosmee f



(No Model.)

H. P. JACKSON.

SHAFTS FOR VEHIGLE'S.

Patented Mar. 24, 1885.

/ HESS S I 'IIVVE/VTOI? ATTORNEY NTTnn STATES PATENT @rrrce.

HOSMER F. AGKSON, OF NEWPORT, NEW YORK.

SHAFT'S FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,296, dated March 24, 1885.

Application filed August 14, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOSMER F. JAoKsoN, of Newport, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shafts for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in shafts for vehicles, and more particularly to devices designed for the purpose of preventing a horse from becoming detached from the shafts in the event of the harness giving away or breaking. A further object is to provide means for preventing the ends of the thills from being caught and injured, and also to prevent the reins from getting under the ends of the thills; and with these ends in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improvement attached to a pair of shafts. Fig. 2 is a view thereof, the metallic strip being detached from the shafts and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

A represents a ferrule of such diameter as to accommodate the ends of the thills,to which it is secured in anydesired manner, the forward end of the ferrule being cut away, as shown at b, forming a shoulder, c. The extreme end of the ferrule is rounded, as shown.

13 represents an elongated tubular cap centrally bored, and provided at one end with the elongated slot d, in which is pivoted a springactuated dog, 6. The forward terminus of the slot is provided with a coil-spring, f, adapted to press against the forward end of the dog e, as shown, thus forcing this end upward and. its opposite end downward. The inner end of the dogis cut away,forming the shoulder g, which is adapted to come in contact with the shoulder c on the ferrule A when'the same is in position in the cap, thus effectually locking the same against accidental displacement.

* the rounded end of the ferrule.

The hooked end of the dog, or back part of the shoulder g, is rounded, as shown at t. The forward end of the cap B is provided with the open slot h, by means of which the band or strap 0 is secured in any effectual manner to the cap B. When desired to employ this device, the cap B is placed over the ferrule A and pushed forward on the same until the hooked end of the dog comes in contact with The said end is then forced forward until the abutments or shoulders c and 9 come into contact with each other, in which posit-ion they are locked by means of the spring f against accidental dis placement. Each one of the shafts being provided with the ferrule, they are connected together by means of the band or strap,which.is also provided witha cap at each end, by means of which it is readily adjustable to the shafts. Should the pulling parts of the harness give away, the horse will be held within the shaft by means of the band or strap 0, which will rest against his shoulder.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1.. The combination, with the thills or shafts having shouldered ends, ofa stiff band or strap, caps secured to said band and provided with recesses, into which the ends of the thills or shafts fit, and a dog secured to each cap and adapted to engage the shoulder of its respective shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. The oo1nbination,with shafts or thills and the ferrules, grooved as described, and secured to the ends of said shafts or thills,of the band or strap, the caps secured to the opposite ends of said band, and the spring-actuated dogs pivoted within said caps and adapted to engage the shoulders on the ferrule, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOSMER F. JACKSON.

Vit nesses:

STUART PERRY, DANIEL P. WoosTER. 

